Football NSW Institute players dominate Junior Matildas squad

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As many as 15 Football NSW Institute female rising stars have won selection into Rae Dower’s Junior Matildas squad set to compete at the AFF U18 Women’s Championship 2022 in Palembang, Indonesia.

Ella Abdul Massih, Tegan Bertolissio, India Breier, Leah De Oliveira, Tahlia Franco, Erin Gordon, Aimee Hall, Shay Hollman, Maya Lobo, Megan Mifsud, Avaani Prakash, Sienna Saveska, Mary Stanic-Floody, Peta Trimis and Adelaide Wyrzynski have all been selected in the 28-player squad along with Jasmine Black who was selected as a shadow player.

The Junior Matildas will face Malaysia, Myanmar and the Philippines in Group B of the tournament commencing on 22 July 2022.

Football NSW’s Player Development Manager for Girls Nadine Shiels was delighted upon hearing the announcement that 15 Institute players were set to represent the Green and Gold.

“I am beyond proud to have a significant number of players from NSW selected in this squad.

“The players, our coaches, and support staff all work extremely hard and put in endless hours to provide the development and support they need to achieve their goals.

“It is an achievement like no other for these players to represent their country and to be able to support Football Australia in developing these talented individuals and future prospects for our National teams is utterly rewarding.”

The selection of the final squad for this tournament follows four camps over the past six months, involving more than sixty players, with a further six players promoted up and in contention for selection in the CommBank Young Matildas squad for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup 2022™.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to travel to Indonesia to participate in the AFF U18 Women’s Championship, which will be the CommBank Junior Matildas first competitive matches since September 2019,” Dower said.

This tournament will be the CommBank Junior Matildas’ first international activity since their involvement in the 2019 AFC U16 Women’s Championship where they finished fourth in the tournament three years ago. It also marks the final Australian Women’s National Team to re-commence international action.

“As a coaching unit, we’re delighted with the depth of talent within this age group. The technical quality and game awareness of the players was of a very high standard, and they’ve maintained that level when back with their respective clubs, which presented a welcomed headache when selecting the final squad.”

Football Australia’s commitment to the national youth teams has seen the appointment of additional staff to the CommBank Junior Matildas’ support and technical ranks over recent months, with this AFF tournament being their first overseas tournament as members of the National Teams Program.

“This AFF U18 Women’s Championship gives all but four players their first experience in travelling overseas, which in itself is a great life lesson. Combining that with being in a full-time football environment, with the heat and humidity of Indonesia, it will provide the players with invaluable insight into what to expect in the future when competing in tournaments and qualifying through the AFC pathways,” Dower explained.

“I would like to acknowledge the collaboration between Football Australia and the coaching and support staff at both Member Federations and clubs for their tireless work in preparing this age group for Australian honours, and I have no doubt this group of footballers will do everyone proud in Indonesia,” Rae Dower concluded.

COMMBANK JUNIOR MATILDAS SQUAD | AFF U18 WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP 2022

Ella ABDUL MASSIH Defender NSW Institute / Football NSW
Isabella ACCARDO Defender Football Victoria NTC / Football Victoria
Josie ALLAN Forward Newcastle Jets / Northern NSW Football
Tegan BERTOLISSIO Defender NSW Institute / Football NSW
Zara BOARD Goalkeeper Subiaco AFC / Football West
India BREIER Forward NSW Institute / Football NSW
Daisy BROWN Forward Football Queensland-QAS / Football Queensland
Georgia CASSIDY Midfielder Hyundai NTC / Football West
Alana CORTELLINO Forward Football Victoria NTC / Football Victoria
Leah DE OLIVEIRA Forward NSW Institute / Football NSW
Jonti FISHER Midfielder Football Queensland-QAS / Football Queensland
Tahlia FRANCO Goalkeeper NSW Institute / Football NSW
Charlie GIBSON Defender Football Queensland-QAS / Football Queensland
Erin GORDON Defender NSW Institute / Football NSW
Aimee HALL Goalkeeper NSW Institute / Football NSW
Shay HOLLMAN Midfielder NSW Institute / Football NSW
Zoe KARIPIDIS Defender Newcastle Jets / Northern NSW Football
Maya LOBO Midfielder NSW Institute / Football NSW
Megan MIFSUD Defender NSW Institute / Football NSW
Silver Bell MORRIS Defender Football Victoria NTC / Football Victoria
Ella O’GRADY Forward Football Queensland-QAS / Football Queensland
Avaani PRAKASH Midfielder NSW Institute / Football NSW
Sienna SAVESKA Forward NSW Institute / Football NSW
Mary STANIC-FLOODY Midfielder NSW Institute / Football NSW
Peta TRIMIS Forward NSW Institute / Football NSW
Chloe WALANDOUW Defender Newcastle Jets / Northern NSW Football
Grace WILSON Goalkeeper SA NTC / Football South Australia
Adelaide WYRZYNSKI Forward NSW Institute / Football NSW

Shadow Players
Lily BARBER Midfielder SA NTC / Football South Australia
Margaret BARRETT Forward Football Queensland-QAS / Football Queensland
Jasmine BLACK Goalkeeper NSW Institute / Football NSW
Aleeah DAVERN Midfielder Football Queensland-QAS / Football Queensland
Ellen GETT Forward Football Queensland-QAS / Football Queensland
Claire SCARPIN Forward SA NTC / Football South Australia
Hayley WELLINGTON Defender SA NTC / Football South Australia

AFF U18 Women’s Championship 2022 – Match Schedule (Australia)

Australia U18 v Philippines U18
Date: Monday, 25 July 2022
Venue: Athletic Field, Palembang, Indonesia
Kick-off: 3.30pm (local); 6.30pm AEST

Malaysia U18 v Australia U18
Date: Wednesday, 27 July 2022
Venue: Athletic Field, Palembang, Indonesia
Kick-off: 7.30pm (local); 10.30pm AEST

Australia U18 v Myanmar U18
Date: Friday, 29 July 2022
Venue: Athletic Field, Palembang, Indonesia
Kick-off: 3.30pm (local); 6.30pm AEST

Semi-Finals: Tuesday, 2 August 2022

Finals: Thursday, 4 August 2022